tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6883276232325109679.post5801729371915607656..comments2023-07-29T05:58:07.033-05:00Comments on Landish Notions : A post in which I conclude with an obvious thought...Brian Stipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07430687524005663498noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6883276232325109679.post-3201343321263836162011-07-07T08:32:34.391-05:002011-07-07T08:32:34.391-05:00Nathan, thanks for your thoughts.It seems that wal...Nathan, thanks for your thoughts.It seems that walking to work was a part of my ideals that I brought to the table, and not doing it does not have the sense of disobedience, or unfaithfulness. "...if we begin to observe that the outcome of our choices is not just and/or right, then we ought to adjust them accordingly." This is what i'm doing, i suppose.Brian Stipphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07430687524005663498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6883276232325109679.post-86516715110889168192011-07-01T07:26:03.236-05:002011-07-01T07:26:03.236-05:00First, when I read your post it makes me think of ...First, when I read your post it makes me think of the distinctions I've seen in various bodies of work in Christian ethics. I think we are invited to make some decisions and follow some patterns as a matter of prudence, with a clear eye toward the outcome, hopefully a just and/or right outcome. And if we begin to observe that the outcome of our choices is not just and/or right, then we ought to adjust them accordingly. Persistent efforts toward the just and/or right outcome is part of being faithful, part of the array of responsibilities we're given. However, there are other decisions and patterns of life to which we're called that, regardless of outcome, constitute faithfulness in and of themselves. It is not necessarily easy to distinguish which decisions and patterns in what you wrote are prudential and which ones are matters of faithfulness regardless of outcome. It sounds like you've already done this to some extent. <br /><br />Second, I worked with several police officers in Grand Rapids who had become utterly indifferent to the pain and disorder they saw on at least a weekly basis. A few even seemed to have contempt for the victims after awhile. So if your walks after 8 years are still "often laden with the weight of my students' pain and questions of how I or anyone might reach them" this is a very good thing, if I can use "good" here.<br /><br />Lastly, you have chosen to live in the midst of social pathology in some of its most intense manifestations. Failure, in some senses, is guaranteed. But every image bearer is of infinite value so if your faithfulness contributes to a single one of the tens or hundreds of thousands around you discovering a better way to be human, all is gained. International Justice Mission rejoices every time they rescue 3 or 5 or 20 slaves from their oppressors, and yet they know there are tens of millions of abused, enslaved, hopeless children, women, and men all over the world they will never rescue. <br /><br />I'm not writing anything you don't already know. Sorry for the length. I just wanted to share my thoughts. I commit to pray for you (and your family), your neighbors, and your students every morning for the rest of this summer. I'm up at 4:30am CST for work everyday so these prayers will likely go ahead of you each morning. <br /><br />Talk to you soon, brother. Thanks for sharing this. <br /><br />N.BerkeleyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6883276232325109679.post-38680795661457716402011-06-30T22:23:11.381-05:002011-06-30T22:23:11.381-05:00I respect you for keeping your eyes open and seein...I respect you for keeping your eyes open and seeing the pain even though it scars your own heart. When you walk, you are not shutting your ears and eyes. <br /><br />If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. Prov 21:13chadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6883276232325109679.post-1617121579967939382011-06-28T01:47:36.198-05:002011-06-28T01:47:36.198-05:00Wow.....just wowWow.....just wowAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com